28 Jan Car Care While Your Car Is Sitting for Long Periods
If your car is sitting for long periods of time, especially in the winter months, it’s important to know how to prepare with some simple car care tips. Leaving your car stationary for weeks or months at a time can cause an array of issues, so it’s best to get ahead of the problem. In this article, we’re giving you some of the risks associated with a car that sits for long periods of time and give you some advice on prevention measures that you can take.
Potential Risks
When cars sit for a long time without being driven, oftentimes their tires will lose pressure. In colder climates, this risk is exacerbated.
You should check your vehicle’s manual and note the proper inflation level for your tires. For most, this number will be somewhere between 32-35.
There is also a chance of rodent nesting when storing your car. Some infestations can get so severe that damage is incurred to the interior of the car, with rodents chewing and making a nest out of your car’s interior.
Another thing to be aware of is fuel condensation. Fuel tanks can gather condensation, allowing moisture to contaminate the fuel in your tank.
Preventing Potential Problems
Luckily, there are several relatively easy steps you can take to prepare your car for a long wait this winter.
Cover, if possible. If you have a garage, that is the most ideal place to store your vehicle. A garage protects against the elements of weather to keep your vehicle at a suitable temperature. If you don’t have room in the garage, consider putting the car in storage if you can find a reasonable price. If all else fails, you can always park the car outside with a weather cover for some protection.
Fill the tank. The best way to prevent fuel condensation is to fill your gas tank up before putting the car away. While this might seem counterintuitive, it will save you a lot of headaches down the road. And besides—it will be a great feeling when you get back in that car for the first time with a full tank of gas!
Give it a clean. Another tip that might seem strange: cleaning up the car before putting it away. However, this easy step is very important. Water stains, bird droppings, or plant residue left on the car can damage the paint. Additionally, you should clean the wheels and undersides of the fenders to ensure that you are rid of all mud, tar, and grease. That stuff doesn’t age well, and you don’t want it in your car!
Final Thoughts
If you’re about to put your car away for the winter, make sure to take all the precautions you said.
It’s a good idea to get the vehicle inspected before putting it away, but regardless, make sure you bring it to Ron’s Garage in Ann Arbor when you take it back out.
Our talented team has been serving Ann Arbor since 1982, and we take pride in taking care of our customers at an honest price.
We’d love to help you with your vehicle!